Theater.



No. 821,164. PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

, H. HELBIG.

THEATER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. s, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1906.

Application filed September 6, 1905. Serial No. 277,248.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY HELBIG, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Munich, Bavaria, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Theaters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to theaters, circus-buildings, and other halls and the like for the reception of great numbers of people; and its object is to construct such buildings so that the audience may easily escape from any of the parts or rooms of the building without causing a panic in case of danger by fire or from other cause.

In order to render the present s ecification easily intelligible, reference is had to the accompanyin drawing, which shows a perspective view 0 a building carried out according to the present invention.

According to the invention broad flights of steps a, are arranged at one or both sides of the building, ending in terrace-like landings b, onto which the entrances c to the various parts of the house open. These flights of stairs are advantageously arranged at each side of the main entrance, opposite the stageentrance, and lead backward to the upper parts of the building, whereupon, as indicated in dotted lines, the upper parts of the stairs lead forward again. By means of this arrangement the stairs Will reach every part of the house Without being unnecessarily steep. This arrangement of the stairs will enable those Within the building to immediately reach the open air from the inside. By means of this construction the stairs may be constantly widened toward the bottom, thus removing the most general cause of panic, because it is well known in connection with catastrophes owing to fire that the crowds entering the staircases from the lower circles prevent the descent of those coming from the upper parts, and thus panic and loss of life ensue. According to the present invention the stairs are gradually widened toward the bottom, so that all parts of the house may empty onto the stairs directly into the open a1r, and every part will empty onto a different point of the stairs.

As will be seen from the accompanying drawing, the stairs may be easily adapted to suit the architecture of the building, the effect of which will be rather heightened than in any way spoiled, which is a point of great importance. In View of the fact that in buildings of this class the structure narrows toward the main entrance, the stairs may be so arranged that the outside limits of the same will run parallel to each other and may in some case even close onto the lateral parts of the rear front of the building, so that the plan of the whole building will be rectangular.

Beneath the stairs offices or dwellings may be built or entrances to the ground-floor rooms or carriage-Ways, as indicated at d, which may lead to the stall-entrances or to the private boxes and if properly arranged will heighten the effect of the building.

The number of stairways may be varied at will. For instance, in connection with a circus it will be advantageous to make four main flightstwo at each side running at opposite directions.

In addition to the exterior stairs the building may also be provided with interior staircases, as at e and f, leading to the various circles. The stairs atemay open onto the outer stairs at the top at g and at the bottom at h.

I claim as my invention 1. In a building for theaters, circuses and other assembly-halls, the combination of exterior flights of stairs leading up at the side of the building, exits from each part of the house directly onto the said stairs, the said stairs being widened toward the lower parts to correspond with the increased number of exits.

2. In a building of the class specified, the combination of exterior flights of stairs arranged at each side of the house, in the open air, exits direct from each floor of the house to the stairs the latter being graduallywidened toward the lower parts.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afflx my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY HELBIG.

Witnesses:

ULYSSES J. BYWATER, ABRAHAM SoHLEsINGER. 

